Favourite Lunch & Après:Chetzeron in Crans-Montana has the best local food and panoramic views (make sure you have room for pudding). Martinis in Le Farinet, Verbier certainly keep the ski legs going a little longer.

My Tip: You can never stop learning and this is particularly true when it comes to skiing. Always budget for a ski instructor or guide, you will get so much more out of your holiday.

Mark Gibbins

Managing Director

I have always believed that skiing is a means of transportation to and from lunch...I am the person you need to speak to about finding the perfect terrace spot for a fine Alpine lunch!

I am a skier.

Favourite Resorts: Crans-Montana, Val d'Isère and Whistler.

Ski Seasons: 6 in Crans Montana, 2 in Meribel.

Favourite Properties: Ferme de Moudon in Les Gets and the Residences at The Four Seasons Whistler.

Favourite Lunch &Après:Signal in Val d'Isère for lunch and the infamous après at La Folie Douce, Val d'Isère (and now also in Val Thorens and Méribel).

My Tip: Invest in your own pair of ski boots, even if you only ski 6 days a year...go that extra step and get a custom fit pair from SureFoot.

Neil Kitchen

Sales Manager

After two ski seasons in Verbier, I felt it was time to get a 'proper job' in the ski industry. I love talking about amazing properties every day and count myself very lucky to have visited and experienced some of the best chalets in the Alps.

Favourite Lunch & Après: Chez Vrony in Zermatt for a fine lunch and the aptly named Après-Ski Bar in Verbier.

My Tip: Avoid the morning queues at Medran in Verbier by asking your driver to drop you at Carrefour and use the new 6 man chair to get up to Ruinettes.

Harriet Tetlow

Senior Travel Consultant, Chalets

Skiing for me is now more about the whole holiday experience, rather than just the amount of runs you can do in one day! I am lucky enough to have enjoyed the epitome of a luxury ski holiday first hand - let me tell you about it and find out how you can too!

I am a skier.

Favourite resorts: Val d’Isere, Lech and Verbier.

Favourite properties: Marco Polo, Uberhaus and Blossom Hill.

Favourite Lunch and Apres: Bar d’Altitude de L’Ouillette for a beach themed barbeque and La Folie Douce for the ultimate après. Both Val d’Isere.

My Tip: Never underestimate the power of a good mountain lunch! And view our selection of the top twenty chalets in the world – www.luxurychaletcollection.com.

Kylie Hardy

Senior Travel Consultant, Chalets

With a love for snowsports and a passion for interior design this job is perfect, as I get to talk about stunning chalets and skiing all day long.

Favourite Lunch & Après: Merlin's at the bottom of Blackcombe for the delicious Nachos! Chambre Neuf for après-ski in Chamonix and La Folie Douce in Val d'Isère for the atmosphere, views and music.

My Tip: When in Whistler eat at Sushi Village and order a frozen strawberry sake. The must do run is Peak to Creek for the great off-piste trees.

Franki Beilby

Travel Consultant, Chalets

There is more to a Winter holiday than just skiing. After a morning on the slopes, I can think of nothing better than a well deserved, long lunch with a vin chaud inside a cosy mountain restaurant or a glass of wine on the terrace in Spring!

Favourite Lunch & Après: A long lunch on a snowy day at Chez Babeth in Chatel is a must (mainly for the amazing décor and fantastic desserts) and après-ski at Le Rond-Point in Meribel.

My Tip: Buy a good 'shell' jacket as you can layer up for all conditions.

Sarah Kitching

Travel Consultant, Chalets

My passion for skiing and being in the mountains was fuelled by having survived 3 seasons in both the French and Austrian Alps! Now I am here to share my love and knowledge for the sport, properties and mountains with you!

I am a skier.

Favourite Resorts: St. Anton, Val d'Isere and Verbier. Although St Anton will always have my heart!

Favourite Lunch & Après: Rodel Alm in St. Anton for their half chicken with a semmel (Austrian bread roll), Krazy Kangaroo for après and dancing on tables!!

My Tip: Get the first lift and head high! In St Anton, head to Hospiz Alm in St Christoph, and use the slide down to the bathrooms!

Alice Dalton

Travel Consultant, Chalets

I planned my first ski season over 2 years in advance so I knew I was destined to end up in the ski industry, and here I am! It's a pleasure to have a role that incorporates my passion and knowledge of the sport.

I am a skier.

Favourite Resorts: Meribel & Val d'Isère.

Ski Seasons: 1 in Mont Tremblant, Canada, 1 in Meribel

Favourite Properties: Chalet Foinbois in Meribel Village and Le Chardon in Val d'Isère.

Favourite Lunch & Après: : Le Panoramic - Great views from the top of La Masse (Courchevel) and for après it has to be the Le Rond Point in Meribel for live music and toffee vodka - skiing down afterwards is also very amusing!!

My Tip: Ask your chef or host to pack some nibbles and a bottle of bubbles in a bag, find a secluded spot on the mountain and tuck in!

Annabel Gonifas

Travel Consultant, Chalets

My skiing life started when I lived in America at the age of 4. I have memories of freezing temperatures, icy slopes and peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. Luckily things have improved hugely since and now a perfect day for me is fresh, endless powder and a cosy mountain restaurant. I am now Oxford based after running my own luxury chalet company in St Anton for 6 years and am excited about settling into family life in the UK and still being able to talk about skiing and chalets all day!

Favourite Lunch & Après: Hotel Post in the pretty village of Stuben for a gorgeous lunch with a stunning valley view. St Anton has a great choice of Après ski, but my favourite is the rustic Underground on the Piste for its live music and atmosphere.

My Tip: Try to get out on the mountain even if it's a blizzard. Fresh air is always a winner, you may well have the best day of your life in the powder and the gluwein at the bottom will taste SO much better.

Karen Cabena

Head of Sales, Hotels & North America

With a passion for travel, sport and adventure I have been lucky enough to experience the amazing skiing that can be found in Canada & North America as well as Europe. Working here gives me the perfect opportunity to help you experience the same!

I am a skier.

Favourite Resorts: Verbier in Switzerland, Lake Louise in Canada and Vail in Colorado

Favourite Lunch & Après: If you are in Verbier then stop off at the W Off Piste après bar (just outside the W Hotel) for live DJ music and a glass of bubbly. For dinner one of my favourites when in Whistler is Sushi Village – delicious!!!

My Tip: When skiing in North America & Canada take advantage of the mountain hosts for free ski guiding. Fantastic friendly volunteers who provide some great facts and history on the mountains as well as taking you to the best slopes for the conditions that day! Also don’t forget to explore the incredible “back bowls” and off piste terrain that the North American resorts have to offer – very different to Europe.

Ellie Knowles

Travel Consultant, Hotels & North America

I love how invigorated and excited a snowy mountain vista can make you feel. I have been lucky enough to visit and stay in many of the properties we feature. Experiencing all these luxuries makes finding the perfect hotel for you no trouble.

My Tip: In Aspen make use of the ski storage and transfer service; drop your skis at the base of the mountain after skiing and have them transferred to another mountain of your choice overnight! This means no walking through town with skis on your shoulder. You can go straight off to experience the glitz and glamour that downtown Aspen has to offer!

Vicki Bannister

Travel Consultant, Hotels & North America

Those days we all dream of in the mountains with fresh powder and clear blue skies. If I wake up and the conditions are perfect, I am definitely grabbing the first lift up and making new tracks. It's a pleasure to now work in a role that enables me to pass on my knowledge & experience of the mountains!

I am a snowboarder.

Favourite Resorts: Val d’Isere, Megève, St. Anton and Kitzbühel.

Ski Seasons: 2 in Austria, 1 in Switzerland and 3 Summer Seasons on the beaches of Greece.

Favourite Lunch & Après: Head to 2Mille3 in Val Thorens for lunch on the terrace, or La Folie Douce in Meribel, finish up with a cosy dinner at L’Osteria in Courchevel - great atmosphere, gorgeous décor and delicious Italian cuisine.

My Tip: Combine your 2015/16 holiday with one of the many winter events and competitions held across Europe and North America. My top picks are the X Games Aspen 2016 or enjoy the highest altitude festival in Europe.. Zermatt Unplugged!

Victoria Perrins

Concierge

For me there is simply nothing better than a ski holiday. Spending a week in the mountains with lots of snow, sunshine and skiing is amazing. Having a job where I get to think about skiing all day is a pleasure.

Favourite Lunch & Après: La Roc Tania Restaurant for the Le Roc burger in Courchevel and the Rond Point in Meribel for Après.

My Tip: If you have children take an afternoon or an evening to go tobogganing. Or even if you don't have children, still go tobogganing...fun for all ages!

Diana Cherry

Director of Operations, Oxford Private Travel

As someone who has to start planning their next holiday as soon as they return from the last one, running Oxford Private Travel (our summery sister company) is my dream job. The importance of an amazing holiday should never be underestimated!

I am a skier (and villa expert!)

Favourite Resorts: Verbier and Zermatt in Winter. Marrakech and the Cote d'Azur in summer.

Favourite Lunch & Apres: Cervo in Zermatt - the best Gluhwein in town and you must try the Cervo fries! Lunch at Club 55, St Tropez for the sheer spectacle.

My Tip: Alpine resorts can be just as special in summer and are the perfect solution for a luxury family holiday.

Laura Porter

Product Manager, Oxford Private Travel

Having spent a lot of my school holidays in the Algarve and Madeira with my Portuguese Grandfather hotelier, I like to think travel and hospitality is in my blood. As someone who likes to spend 50% of a holiday lying horizontally in a beautiful sun-drenched location, and the other 50% soaking up the culture, Oxford Private Travel really is a job I am passionate about.

My tip: Go to places that are hard to reach. Caribbean islands that don’t have direct flights such as the BVIs and St Barths are so worth it, and who doesn't love a short boat transfer or light jet landing!

Lauren Marques

Travel Consultant, Oxford Private Travel

I have over 10 years experience of working in travel which has allowed me to live in, work in and travel to some utterly amazing places! Working for Oxford Private Travel really is my dream job as I get to work with a fantastic team, and put all of my knowledge and experience into planning exciting and memorable holidays for my clients.

Destinations I love: Portugal, The Seychelles, Greece, and Indonesia.

Properties I love: North Island (Seychelles) Villa Dream (Barbados)

Recently visited: Bali, Barbados, Spain, Portugal and France.

My tip: Travel as often as you can! The world that we live in is amazing, go and explore it!

James Ellwood

Travel Consultant, Oxford Private Travel

Having lived and worked abroad on a couple of occasions I am captured by the travel bug and take great pride in placing someone in their perfect hotel or villa in a destination suited to them. I joined the team from a hospitality background so customer service and going that extra mile at any given opportunity is something I’m extremely passionate about.

I am a villa & hotel expert.

Places I love: Sicily and Singapore

Properties I love: Raffles (Singapore), Castell Son Claret (Mallorca) and Can Zama (Ibiza)

Recently visited: Barcelona and Sicily

My Tip: When visiting South East Asia or Australasia, be sure to stop off for a 2 night stay in Singapore and experience the cleanest and most beautiful city in the world, the perfect destination for a whistle stop tour either side of a longer, more relaxing break.

Nicola Lazarus

Accounts & Bookings Administrator

The luxurious places we deal with need to be seen to be believed! I administer the accounts and bookings so have the pleasure of seeing an overview of all these special places. They are fabulous!

I am a beginner skier.

Favourite Resorts: During the winter, St Anton. For Summer, somewhere along the coast of the Algarve.

Ski Seasons: 0. But Great Barrier Reef - 1!

Favourite Properties:Tivoli Lodge, Davos and White Pearl, Val d'Isère

My Tip: I've seen how daunting and stressful the run up to the holiday can be. So, I would also recommend making the most of the concierge service - start as you mean to go on; stress-free!

Joanne Busby

PA to Directors

I enjoyed ski holidays in Italy, Austria, France and Canada as a child, with my father - a passionate skier - desperately and repeatedly trying to inject the spirit of adventure into his wife and two daughters. As an adult, though, the overall experience of the ski holiday has tempted me back, and I look forward to many years of gentle bunny-hopping down the green slopes ahead!

Favourite Lunch & Après: A mouth-watering steak at the Hotel Cervo, Zermatt, and a magnum (or two!) of rose at La Folie Douce, Val d’Isere: the stuff of Alpine legend!

My Tip: Skiing with young children doesn’t have to be one big compromise! There are great specialist ski tuition and childcare options available now for those of us who want to enjoy family time AND adult social time on our ski holiday.

Kristel Valaydon

PR Executive

I am very, very lucky to have discovered the addictive world of travel through PR. Representing some amazing destinations I've managed to visit a fair number of countries, amazing properties and have been introduced to some wonderful people and cultures – in fact it doesn't feel like a job at all!

I am a beginner skier and already can’t wait to get back on the slopes!

Recently visited: Courchevel, Paris, Croatia and Capri. My tip: Have always been thankful to have a friendly instructor around to help get you into the swing of things more quickly and provide helpful tips and hints, well worth the investment – made the skiing experience even more enjoyable.

Saffron

Border Terrier

My role is simply to assist with positive staff morale, although, to be fair, I spend the vast majority of my day sleeping.

I am a dog.

Owner: Mark Gibbins

Favourite spot: My office bed

Favourite time of day: Lunch time

Party Trick: I don't have many, but am good at walking backwards.

Will

Labrador

My most important office duties include chasing Saffron first thing in the morning, sleeping on my back so I am in the way of everyone, and pulling my puppy dog eyes when I want to go for a walk!

I am a dog.

Owner: Sarah Kitching.

Favourite spot: My office bed.

Favourite time of day: Morning and getting to work, afternoon walk and home time! The rest of the time I’m asleep!

Party Trick: Looking ridiculously comfortable and relaxed when everyone is hard at work!

Caper

Labrador

I am the office K9 agent, you may think I’m sleeping all day but I’m actually selling puppy ski packages all around the world. I am also the office hoover. Step aside Dyson.

I am a dog.

Owner: Alice Dalton

Favourite spot: The park at lunch

Favourite time of day: When Mark gives me treats

Party Trick: I can purposefully not catch treats that are thrown at me so I make every one laugh.

Henry

Sprocker Spaniel

I spend most of my days ‘sharking’ around the office making sure everyone is doing their work. I love a cuddle and sitting on people’s feet – just so they remember I’m there! My favourite time is the afternoon when I have a run around with Saffron and Bertie – I love work!

I am a dog

Owner: Laura Porter

Favourite spot: On my Mum’s feet

Favourite time of day: Getting to work – I love it!

Party Trick: Sharking – I can walk around in circles all day and not get dizzy.

Bertie

Cocker Spaniel

I am very good at making everyone say ‘Awww!’ and attracting a lot of attention when I’m out and about, but I most enjoy playtime with my best friend Henry (when I’m allowed!)

Our Holidays

The Small Print

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